Method and apparatus for eletric lighting and starting vapor conductors



J. W. DORSEY.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECIBIC LIGHTING AND STARTING VAPOR CONDUCTORS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1917.

' 1,333,608. Patented Mar. 16, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEE cE.

JOHN w. DORSEY, or wmmrn mrrona, CANADA.

METHOD AN APPARATUS FOR ELETBIO LIGHTING AN D STARTING VAPOR CONDUCTORS.

Specification 01' Letters Patent. I Patented lVIar. 16, 1920 Application filed June 18,1917. Serial No. 175,165.

To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that I JOHN W. DORSEY, a citizen of the United Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba and Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Electric Lighting and Start- I ing Vapor Conductors, of which the followin is a specification.

y invention relates to vapor electric apparatus in which an electric circuit is to be established and maintained through a body of gas or vapor; and has f01'.-IltS principal objects the production of an a paratus which is highly eflicient and reliab e, which operates without a vacuuin, in which the arc vapor does not come in contact with air and is not consumed by oxidation, which may be operated at constant pressure in a heat resisting glass tube, which does not require renewal of electrode material, does not require the use of quartz glass, and in which the glass may be readily replaced. Other objects will more fully appear hereinafter.

In the usual. types of open arcs there is a continual burning away of electrode material which requires that sucli lamps be regularly trimmed. for continuous operation. Furthermore, in the usual types of mercury arcs a vacuum is necessary in starting. The purpose of this invention is to eliminate the vacuum and renewal of electrodes, and at the same time maintain a 0d color of light and high efficiency obtaina le from a vapor conductor slightly above atmospheric pressure.

As illustrative of the invention I will show and describe its embodimentin a lamp of the mercury vapor type, but it will be understood that the invention, for certain features thereof, may be embodied in other forms of apparatus such as lamps employing vapors or gases other than mercury vapor, and other types of apparatus sum as current rectifiei's, etc. The invention consists, therefore, in the novel apparatus 7 and method for electric lighting and starting vapor conductors, as hereinafter described and claimed, and shown in the ac companying drawings, in Which Figure 1 IS a front view showing a inercury vapor lamp and mechanism embodying the invention, the operative parts being shown in longitudinal section;

Fig. 2 is a similar View with ingframe and operative solenoids omitted and showing the movable electrode and co- States, residing at operative parts in raised are has been struck;

ig. is adiagram showing the circuit connections.

Referring to the drawings, A is a casin preferably of heat resisting glass and close position after the at the lower end which constitutes a recep- T tacle for the liquid electrode B. The casing ina be supported in any suitable manner, as y a shell amounted upon bridge piece a supported by rods (6 connected with the base 0 of the lamp as a whole. The shell a may be provided with any suitable packing material a through which extends the terminal a. of tungsten or any'suitable me tallic conductor sealed into the shell.

Mounted within the casing is a piston D at the lower end of which is carried a movable electrode E, which latter may be of nickel, tungsten or other suitable material. Both the piston D and the movable electrode are opera le by means of rod (l at the upper end of which is a fixed stop d.

Piston D is preferably composed of iron and asbestos gaskets alternately placed, the iron gaskets (l being of greater diameter than the asbestos gaskets it the piston as a whole fitting within the casing A soas to permit the passage of liquid electrode material and vapor to a point above the piston.

The upper portion of the piston is provided with additional gaskets cl having beveled upper surfaces for the ready return of the liquid electrode material when the lamp is not in operation.

Above the piston D is located the starting .contact F which is braced from piston rod (1 by braces f. I

In order to protect casing A adjacent the and surround the lower end of the are at the point of greatest heat.-

The piston and movable electrode are opei'ated principally by a long pull electromagnet H shown as a double solenoid, the cores h of which are connected to yoke h fron which extend rods h carry'ng a seethe support- 0nd yoke h. Rods k are extended further and carry a heating solenoid I mounted in anysuitable structure such as a surrounding Starting with the parts in the shell provided with plaster and asbestos or other packin In order to revent the actrode. B, and wire 3 to line. The action of heating solenoid I heats the mercury or other liquid electrode B until vaporization takes place. The pressure of the vapor thus generated forces some of the mercury past the piston D, and such of the mercury and vapor as escapes past said piston goes into the casing'above the piston where the vapor condenses, and a certain amount of mercury is thus provided above the piston to engage the lower end of rod F,thereby closing the following circuit: wire 1, electro-magnet H, wire 4, wmdmg of relay L, wire 5, rod F, mercury above the p1ston,rod (I, movable electrode E, liquid electrode B and return to line by wire 3. Magnet H is thereby energized and the structure carried by its armature. including yokes h and It starts upward. The first ,result of this is to move heater I until its lower endis adjacent or above the movable electrode'E, and oke h then engages stop (I', when the furt er upward movement carries piston rod d and piston D together with movable electrode E, thus striking the arc. The n ward movement continues to the limit, wl ien the parts are in the. position shown in Fig. 2. Upon the energization of relay L however, contact F is short circuited by the relay armature through wire 6, so that only the initial current impulse passes alone through contact F.

It will be understood that the magnet H is of low resistance, as also relay L, and consume very little energy. but if desired a holding coil or magnet of less resistance may be provided and arranged to be cut'in the circuit after starting as is well known in the art.

During the operation of the lam the pressure below the piston is slighti; greater than atmospheric pressure and serves to maintain a small amount of mercury or other liquid electrode material above the piston to act as a seal for the arc chamber within the casing. Hence it will-be seen that while the lamp operates at substantially atmos heric pressure, the pressure is usually shghtly above atmospheric pressure:- In some in stances when starting the pressure of the vaporized liquid electrode below the piston assists the action of the electromagnet in raising the piston, and if the vaporization is sufficiently rapid this action is accentuated.

When the action of the apparatus is to be discontinued, that is, the lamp in this instance extinguished, the current is cut off and the moving parts then have a tendency to return to the positions indicated in Fig. 1. As the mercury vapor below the piston cools, it condenses and the return motion of the parts then takes place. Moreover, as the atmospheric pressure above the piston is no longer counter-balanced bv the tension of the mercury vapor below the piston, the mercury which has accumulated and. was carried above the piston passes the piston packing and returns to the main body of mercury below the piston, so that the contact. with rod,

F is broken. The parts are then ready to be started again as hereinbefore set forth.

It will be observed in connection with the sleeve G that this sleeve protects the walls of the casing adjacent the lower end of the are where the heat is the greatest, and thereby avoids bulging and destruction of the casing at this noint. The sleeve itself is removable, and if it become injured or opaque it may be readily replaced by a fresh sleeve.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is-- 1. Vapor electric apparatuscomprising a liquid electrode, a solid electrode, means for starting the vapor are between said electrodes, and an inclosing casing in which said operation takes place and in which the arc is maintained at a constant pressure greater than atmosphere, all gas or vapor other than that of the liquid electrode being excluded from said casing at the time the arc is 'formed and during the operation.

2. Vapor electric apparatus comprising a liquid electrode, a solid electrode movable into and out of contact therewith, and a seal of said liquid electrode material above said movable electrode. I

3. Vapor electric apparatus comprising a liquid electrode, a solid electrode movable into and out of contact therewith, and a seal of said liquid electrode material located above and movable with said movable electrode. 4. Vapor electric apparatus comprising an inclosing casing, a liquid electrode therein, a solid electrode movable into and out of contact with said liquid electrode, a piston con nected with said movable electrode and fitting said casing above said movable electrode, and a seal of said liquid electrode material above said piston.

5. Vapor electric apparatus comprising an inclosing casing, the liquid electrode therein,

a solid electrode movable into and out of contact with said liquid electrode, a piston connected with said movableelectrode and provided with a packing which permits the escape under slight pressure of said liquid electrode material between said piston and casing to a position above said piston, and a seal of said liquid electrode material above said piston.

6. Vapor electric apparatus comprising an inclosing casing, a liquid electrode'therein, a solid electrode movable into and out of contact with said liquid electrode, a piston connected with said movable electrode and fitting said casing above said movable electrode, a seal of said liquid electrode material above said piston, and means heating said liquid electrode to cause the increase of said material above the piston when starting the action of said apparatus.

7. Vapor electric apparatus comprising an inc-losing casing, a liquid electrode therein, a

solid electrode movable into and out of con-.

tact with said liquid electrode, a piston connected-with said movable electrode and fitting said casing above same, and means for heating said liquid electrode to cause the movement of its material past saidpiston to a point above the same.

8. Vapor electric apparatus comprising an inclosing casing, a liquid electrode therein, a solid electrode movable into and out of contactwith said liquid electrode, a rod extending into said casing on which said liquid electrode is carried, a piston mountedon said rod adjacent said movable electrode and fitting the casing, and a seal of said liquid electrode material above said piston.

9. Vapor electric apparatus comprising an inclosing casing, a llquid electrode therein, a solid electrode movable into and out of contact with said liquid electrode, a rod extending into said casing on which said solid electrode is carried, a piston mounted on said rod adjacent said movable electrode and fitting said casing, a seal of said liquid electrode material above said piston, and an electro-magnet for operating said rod.

10. Vapor electric apparatus comprising a liquid electrode, a solid electrode, a movable seal above said solid electrode, and means for moving said solid electrode into and out of contact with said liquid electrode which comprises a long full solenoid magnet and dash pot. 11. Vapor electric apparatus comprising an incloslng casing, a liquid electrode therein, a solid electrode movable into and out ofcontact with said liquid electrode, a rod extending into said casing on which said electrode is carried, a piston mounted on said rod, adjacent to said movable electrode and fitting said casing, a seal of said liquid electrode material above said piston, means for moving said solid electrode into and out of contact with said liquid electrode which includes a long full solenoid magnet and dash pot.

l2. Vapor electric apparatus comprising an inclosing casing, a liquid electrode therein, a solid electrode movable into and out of contact with said liquid electrode a seal of said liquid electrode material above said movable electrode, an electro-magnet for opand fitting said casing above the same, a seal of said liquid electrode material above said piston, an electro-magnet for operating said piston and movable electrode, and a contact engaged by said seal material to close the circuit of said electro-magnet.

14. Vapor electric a paratns comprising an inclosing casing, a liquid electrode therein, a solid electrode movable into and out of contact with said liquid electrode, a piston connected with said movable electrode and fittin said'casing above same, a seal of said liqui electrode material above said piston, an electro-magnet for operating said piston and movable electrode, a contact in proximity to said material above the piston, and means 'for heating said liquid electrode to cause the increase of said material above the piston and thereby engagement with said contact to close the circuit of said electromagnet.

15. Vapor electric apparatus comprising an inclosing casing, a liquid electrode therein, a solid electrode in starting engagement with said liquid electrode, a piston connected with said movable electrode and fitting said casing above the same, a seal of said liquid electrode material abovev said piston, an electro-magnet for operating said movable electrode, acontact in proximity to said material above the piston and in circuit with said electro-magnet, means for heating said liquid electrode to force some of its material past said piston and thereby increase the amount of said material above said iston to engage said contact and thereby c ose. the circuit of said electro-magnet whereby said electrodes are separated and the va or are started.

16. apor electric apparatus comprising an inclosing casing, a liquid electrode therein, a solid electrode in starting engagement with said liquid electrode, a piston connected with' said movable electrode and fitting said casing above same, a seal of the said trode material above said piston, an electromagnet for operating said movable electrode, a contact in proximity to said material above the piston, a heating coil around said liquid electrode, a heating circuit which includes said heating coil, and a circuit in shunt to said heating circuit and including said electro-magnet and said contact.

liquid elec- 17. A vapor electric lamp comprising a liquid electrode, a movable solid electrode, means for producing vapor between said electrodes and an inclosing casing of translucent material in which said operation takes place, and in which the arc is started and maintained at a pressure at least as great as piston, an means for admitting atmospheric pressure to said casing above said seal.

' 19. In a vapor electric apparatus, comprising a chamber containing aliquid electrode and a movable solid electrode normally in contact, means for causing an initial vapor pressure within said chamber, said meanscausing a portion of the liquid material to be raised whereby an operating circuit is established for moving said movable electrode.

20. Vapor electric apparatus comprlsnrg an inclosing casing, a liquid electrode therein, a piston within said casing, a solid electrode carried by said piston and movable into and out of contact with said liquid electrode, said piston comprising alternately placed metal and mineral fiber gaskets, and a seal of said liquid electrode material above said piston.

21. Vapor electric apparatus comprlsing an inclosing casing, a vaporizable liquid electrode in the lower portion thereof, a solid electrode movable into and out of contact with said liquid electrode, a piston connected with said movable electrode and fitting said casing above the same, a seal of said liquid electrode mounted above said piston, means for heating said liquid electrode .to cause the increase of said material above the piston, and means for causing the upward movement of said movable electrode to strike the arc.

22. Vapor electric apparatus comprising an inclosing casing, a vaporizable liquid electrode in the lower portion thereof, a solid electrode movable into and out of contact with said liquid electrode, a piston connected with said movable electrode and fitting said casing above the same, means for heating said liquid electrode to cause the movement of a portion of the liquid electrode material to ass and accumulate above said piston, and means for causin the upward movement of said movable e ectrode to strike the are.

23. Vapor electric apparatus comprising an inclosing casing, a liquid electrode therein, a solid electrode movable into and out of contact with said liquid electrode, a piston connected with said movable electrode and fitting the casing above the same, a heating solenoid surrounding said liquid electrode, o cause the movement of a portion of its material past said piston to a point above the same, and means for moving saidmovable electrode out of contact with said liquid electrode to strike the arc and for moving said heating solenoid above the arc location.

24. Vapor electric apparatus comprising an inclosin casing, a liquid electrode therein, a solid e ectrode movable into and out of contact with said liquid electrode, a piston connected with said movable electrode and fitting the casing above the same, a heating solenoid surrounding said liquid electrode, to cause the movement. of a portion of its material past said piston to a point above the same, and means for first moving said heating solenoid from proximity to said liquid electrode and then continuing its movement together with said piston and movable electrode whereby the arc is struck and said casing free to emit light from the are.

25. Vapor electric apparatus comprising an inclosing casing, a liquid electrode therein, a solid electrode movable into and out of contact with said li uid electrode, a piston connected with sai movable electrode and fitting said casing above the same, a seal of said liquid electrode material above said cpiston, an electro-magnet for operating sai piston and movable electrode, a contact in proximity to said material above the piston, means for heating said liquid electrode to cause the increase of said material above the piston and thereby engagement with said contact to close the circuit of said electro-magnet, and a relay for short-circuiting said contact.

26. A vapor electric lamp comprising an inclosing casing of translucent material, a liquid electrode in the lower art of said casin and a solid electro e structure whic includes a solid electrode dippin into said liquid electrode when the lamp is inactive and movable into and out of contact with said liquid electrode, and a sleeve within said casingadjacent said liquid electrode to protect the casing from the heat of the are, said sleeve being depressed and immersed in the liquid electrode by said solid electrode structure.

27.- A vapor electric lamp comprising an inclosin casing of translucent material, a

liquid e ectrode in the lower part of said refractory translucent material within said my hand in presence of two subscribing casin adjacent said liquid electrode to prowltnesses. tect t e casing from the heat of the arc,

said sleeve being depressed and immersed I JOHN DORSEY' 5 in the liquid electrode by said solid elec- Witnesses:

trode structure. CHAS. S. GRUMMAN,

In testimony vFhereof-I have hereunto set JAMES H. MARR; 

